1996 Caymus Vineyards Barrel-Fermented Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($14).

This ripe, full-bodied, dry white wine offers generous flavors of oak, honey, spices, melon and pear. It's a complex, long-finishing wine that matches the complexity and depth of chardonnays twice its price.

This is one of the best white-wine values from California or anyplace else.

Pub Date: 5/20/98